Management of downloads from a network-based digital data repository based on network performance

Abstract

Improved techniques and systems for storage, delivery and acquisition of digital assets stored in cloud data storage. Cloud data storage can be provided by a cloud data repository that is capable of storing digital data for various users. A given user can access cloud data storage from any of his/her authorized client devices via a network. A given client device can access not only locally stored digital assets but also remotely stored digital assets from cloud data storage. In one embodiment, downloads of digital assets resident in cloud data storage to client devices can be managed in view of available network performance. As one example, digital assets of differing quality levels can be downloaded in a manner dependent on network performance. As another example, locally stored digital assets of reduced quality can be upgraded (e.g., replaced) by higher quality versions in a manner dependent on network performance.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A method for upgrading a digital asset at an electronic device having a memory for data storage, the method comprising:
 identifying, by the electronic device, a low quality version of the digital asset that is locally stored in local storage; 
 determining, by the electronic device, network performance available to the electronic device, wherein the network performance is based at least in part upon a network congestion of a network communicatively used by the electronic device; 
 determining, by the electronic device, whether the electronic device is being powered by a battery of the electronic device or an external power source; 
 determining, by the electronic device, whether an upgrade of the locally stored digital asset should be performed based at least in part upon the network performance and whether the electronic device is being powered by the battery or the external power source; and 
 when the upgrade of the locally stored digital asset should be performed:
 requesting, by the electronic device, a high quality version of the digital asset from a remote cloud storage; 
 receiving, by the electronic device, the high quality version of the digital asset; and 
 storing the high quality version of the digital asset in the local storage. 
 
 
     
     
       2. The method of  claim 1 , comprising:
 determining, by the electronic device, whether the upgrade of the locally stored digital asset should be performed based at least in part upon one or more additional criteria, the one or more additional criteria including whether the electronic device is idle, whether the electronic device is in a locked mode, and whether a user of the electronic device has not interacted with the electronic device for a predetermined period of time. 
 
     
     
       3. The method of  claim 2 , wherein the one or more additional criteria are waived when:
 the user of the electronic device is seeking to access a particular digital asset previously stored as its low quality version and has not yet be upgraded; or 
 the network performance available to the electronic device reaches a predetermined level. 
 
     
     
       4. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the digital asset comprises a video file, an audio file, or an image file. 
     
     
       5. The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 determining, by the electronic device, the network performance based on a network bandwidth available to the electronic device as indicated by a network connection type. 
 
     
     
       6. The method of  claim 1 , comprising:
 determining, by the electronic device, during performing of the upgrade, whether the performed upgrade should be downgraded; and 
 when the performed upgrade should be downgraded, performing a downgrade, by:
 switching back to the low quality version of the digital asset, without further receiving, by the electronic device, of the high quality version of the digital asset. 
 
 
     
     
       7. The method of  claim 1 , comprising:
 receiving, by querying a database, an indication of a storage location other than a location of the remote cloud storage where the high quality version of the digital asset is stored; and 
 in response to receiving the indication:
 requesting, by the electronic device, the high quality version of the digital asset from the storage location in lieu of the location of the remote cloud storage; and 
 receiving, by the electronic device, the high quality version of the digital asset from the storage location in lieu of the remote cloud storage. 
 
 
     
     
       8. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the digital asset comprises a chunk of data less than an entirety of a piece of digital media. 
     
     
       9. The method of  claim 1 , comprising deleting, by the electronic device, the low quality version of the digital asset after storing the high quality version of the digital asset in the local storage. 
     
     
       10. A non-transitory computer-readable medium including one or more computer-readable instructions that, when executed by one or more processors, causes the one or more processors to:
 identify a low quality version of a digital asset that is locally stored in local storage; 
 determine network performance available to an electronic device comprising the one or more processors; 
 determine whether an upgrade of the locally stored digital asset should be performed based at least in part upon the network performance and whether a battery of the electronic device is charging; and 
 when the upgrade of the locally stored digital asset should be performed:
 request a high quality version of the digital asset from a remote cloud storage; 
 receive the high quality version of the digital asset from the remote cloud storage; and 
 store the high quality version of the digital asset in the local storage. 
 
 
     
     
       11. The computer-readable medium of  claim 10 , wherein the computer-readable instructions comprise instructions that cause the one or more processors to:
 determine whether the upgrade of the locally stored digital asset should be performed based at least in part upon one or more additional criteria; 
 wherein the one or more additional criteria includes
 whether the electronic device is idle, whether the electronic device is in a locked mode, and whether a user of the electronic device has not interacted with the electronic device for a predetermined period of time. 
 
 
     
     
       12. The computer-readable medium of  claim 11 , wherein the computer-readable instructions comprise instructions that cause the one or more processors to:
 waive the one or more additional criteria when the user of the electronic device is seeking to access a particular digital asset previously stored as its low quality version and has not yet be upgraded. 
 
     
     
       13. The computer-readable medium of  claim 11 , wherein the computer-readable instructions comprise instructions that cause the one or more processors to:
 waive the one or more additional criteria when the determined network performance available to the electronic device reaches a predetermined level. 
 
     
     
       14. The computer-readable medium of  claim 10 , wherein the computer-readable instructions comprise instructions that cause the one or more processors to:
 determine the network performance based on a network bandwidth available, as indicated by a network connection type. 
 
     
     
       15. A non-transitory computer-readable medium, comprising computer-readable instructions that, when executed by one or more processors, causes the one or more processors to:
 receive a request for a particular higher quality version of a lower quality version of a digital asset from an electronic device that locally stores the lower quality version of the digital asset, wherein the particular higher quality version is selected by the electronic device based upon network performance available to the electronic device and whether a battery of the electronic device is charging; and 
 upon receiving the request:
 request the particular higher quality version from a cloud storage system; 
 receive the particular higher quality version from the cloud storage system; and 
 provide the particular higher quality version to the electronic device for storage at the electronic device. 
 
 
     
     
       16. The computer-readable medium of  claim 15 , wherein the computer-readable instructions comprise instructions that cause the one or more processors to:
 receive, from the electronic device, a request for a downgraded version of the particular higher quality version, after the electronic device determines that the particular higher quality version should be downgraded; and 
 upon receiving the request for the downgraded version:
 retrieve the downgraded version from the cloud storage; and 
 provide the downgraded version to the electronic device. 
 
 
     
     
       17. The computer-readable medium of  claim 16 , wherein the request for the downgraded version is received after the electronic device detects a stall in playback of the higher quality version. 
     
     
       18. The computer-readable medium of  claim 15 , wherein the computer-readable instructions comprise instructions that cause the one or more processors to:
 authenticate the electronic device, a user associated with the electronic device, or both for access to the particular higher quality version; and 
 request the high quality version only upon the electronic device, the user, or both being authenticated. 
 
     
     
       19. The computer-readable medium of  claim 15 , wherein the request for the particular higher quality version is received in response to playback of the lower quality version by the electronic device. 
     
     
       20. The computer-readable medium of  claim 15 , comprising instructions that cause the one or more processors to:
 provide the particular higher quality version to the electronic device as a stream of chunks that are less than an entirety of the higher quality version.